my bad,
then rust probally got into it and expanded the pipes apart, take them apart, inspect them, and if there is rust on it, smooth it down using some sort of abrasive pad. The reason springs hold it together is cause it moves, if it didn't move, then it would be bolted together and a gasket between the surfaces. look to see if there is rust there first. If you want to go with the RTV, then smooth the metal down, RTV need the absence of air to seal. Rust is tiny little flakes of metal that air got inbetween and oxidized when water was present.